Insight Guides Northern Spain (Travel Guide eBook) by Insight Guides

Author:Insight Guides
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Travel, Northern Spain
Publisher: Apa Publications
Published: 2016-07-14T00:00:00+00:00

Viana city hall.

Getty Images

If you want to continue touring and avoid returning to Pamplona, you have two choices. One is to take the cross-country route from Estella to Tafalla and Olite, making a detour to see Artajona 7 [map] , protected by walls and towers built in the 12th century.

The other, much longer route is north from Estella on the NA-120, stopping at the 12th-century Cistercian Monasterio de Iranzu 8 [map] . The NA-120 continues north over the Sierra de Urbasa via the Puerto de Lizarraga, which is picturesque, especially in autumn. From Uharte-Arakil a very small road winds into the beautiful Sierra de Aralar 9 [map] , a vast upland that spreads across the border into the Basque Country. At its heart is a medieval shrine to St Michael. Hidden among the beech and oak woods are numerous caves and dolmens. After the shrine, the road takes you down to Lekunberri. Turn north up the motorway and then east on the NA-170 to get to the Bidasoa valley north of Pamplona.

South of Pamplona to Olite

Heading south from Pamplona takes you directly to Olite ) [map] , an ancient town founded by Romans. The Palacio Real de Olite (daily Jul−Aug 10am–8pm, Apr−June and Sept 10am−7pm, Jan−Mar and Oct−Dec 10am−6pm) with fairytale conical watchtowers and battlements was built over Roman ruins at the beginning of the 15th century by Carlos the Noble. Next door – and half built into - the castle is a parador hotel. On the other side of the castle public, the 13th-century church of Santa María la Real next to the castle has a superbly sculpted portal and facade, while the 14th-century church of San Pedro has elaborately worked Romanesque cloisters and portal.

Close to Olite is the hilltop village of Ujué ! [map] , one of Spain’s best-preserved villages, a maze of cobbled streets and stairways. Every 25 April, pilgrims in black tunics, many of them carrying crosses, come in silence to visit the Virgin of Ujué. A minor road leads from Ujué to Sangüesa, one of the gateways to the Pyrenees of Navarra.

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